Winter Olympics: The Korean Unity Spectacle Says No to America's War and Destruction

Rasa - In an extraordinary show of unexpected unity, North and South Korea sat side-by-side Friday night under exploding fireworks that represented peace, not destruction, as the 2018 Winter Olympics opened on the Korean Peninsula.

News ID: 436385

Date: 13 February 2018 - 00:14

RNA - The genuine show of Korean unity rejected America’s warmongering, hypocrisy, anger, suspicion, and bloodshed, and instead opted for regional peace and stability:

The sister of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in - both appearing genuinely pleased - while they watched an elaborate show of light, sound and human performance. A moment stunning in its optics and its implications came minutes later: The United States, represented by Vice President Mike Pence, sat suspiciously a row ahead of Kim's sister and the North's nominal head of state, all watching the Games begin - officials from two nations that many worry are on the brink of nuclear conflict.

Not long after, North and South Korean athletes entered Olympic Stadium together, waving flags showing a unified Korea - the longtime dream of many Koreans, both North and South. It was the rivals' first joint Olympic march since 2007. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach lauded the joint march of the two Koreas and said, "We thank you. We are all touched by this wonderful gesture. We all join and support you in your message of peace."

As is, the striking visual moments haven’t gone so well in Washington, where ‘I Have Bigger Button’ President Donald Trump still insists South Korea and Japan should flirt with war to pay more for American protection against their neighbor. Begging for war, Trump even sent his Vice President Pence to the frenzied Winter Olympics to deliberately fire-hose spray the new political development and ensure the Korean unity spectacle and reconciliation won’t go farther than Pyeongchang.

The only problem is that North Korea has a habit of not letting itself be ignored when it comes to its Southern neighbor. And so, with a little help from a liberal South Korean president eager to engage Pyongyang, it joined the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. And it did so with as much focus on further talks and political reconciliation with the South.

To that end, Pyeongchang is the initial pitch. It could and should certainly contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The opening ceremonies offered at least some hints about that, and maybe more. What's certain is that these Games, more so than any in recent memory, are about far more than sports. They are also about peace, as war is never something the Korean people and their neighbors want.

According to Fars News Agancy, the people of two Koreas are all in the know that President Trump pursues stronger sanctions and has threatened to punish countries that trade with North Korea. In the absence of another 'fire and fury' tweet, he has ordered his administration to consider banning North Korean textile exports and its national airline, stop supplies of oil to the government and military, prevent North Koreans from working abroad, and add top officials to a blacklist to subject them to an asset freeze and travel ban.

President Trump has even asked to be briefed on all available military options as Washington is dedicated to no peaceful resolution to the Korean crisis. Far from it, the US wants war to oil the engine of its Military-Industrial Complex, create jobs for its weapons makers, expand its strategic influence in the Far East through reckless and dangerous nuclear intentions, and “make America great again”. No wonder this outrageous misconduct is also vehemently opposed by neighboring China and Russia.

In this dangerous environment that could easily have catastrophic consequences for everyone on the planet, however, the dazzling display of Korean unity on Friday's opening ceremonies at the Winter Olympics was the wonderful gesture the international civil society would expect from the North and South Korean leaders. More pertinently, it was an excellent exercise in regional diplomacy as well. Much to the chagrin of war-party Washington, officials and athletes from the two Koreas are now working together as partners for victory, and that will resonate with and be remembered in the hearts of people around the world as the first step towards lasting peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.

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